CHAPTER 4.3 Fisheries Resources
CHAPTER 4.3 Fisheries Resources 4.3.1 Introduction This chapter describes the existing fisheries resources within the area of the Proposed Project. Section 4.3.2, “Environmental Setting” describes the regional and project area environmental setting as it relates to fisheries resources. Section 4.3.3, “Regulatory Framework” details the federal, state, and local laws related to fisheries resources. Potential impacts to fisheries resources resulting from the Proposed Project are analyzed in Section 4.3.4, “Impact Analysis” in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) significance criteria (CEQA Guidelines, Appendix G) and mitigation measures are proposed that could reduce, eliminate, or avoid such impacts, if feasible. Other impacts related to fisheries resources addressed in other chapters as follows: impacts to hydrology are addressed in Chapter 4.1, “Hydrology,” impacts to water quality are addressed in Chapter 4.2, “Water Quality,” and impacts to recreation are addressed in Chapter 4.5, “Recreation.” 4.3.2 Environmental Setting Russian River Watershed The Russian River measures slightly over 100 miles in length and the watershed drains roughly 1,485 square miles in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. The watershed consists of a series of valleys surrounded by two mountainous ranges, the Mendocino Highlands to the West and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east. The Santa Rosa Plain, Alexander Valley, Hopland Valley, Ukiah Valley, Redwood Valley, Potter Valley and other small valleys comprise about 15 percent of the watershed. The remainder of the watershed area is hilly to mountainous. Principal tributaries of the Russian River include the East Fork Russian River, Big Sulphur Creek, Maacama Creek, Dry Creek, Mark West Creek, and Austin Creek.
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